a start

Progress image of "Majesty"

40" x 40" x 1.5"

I hope to show images of this painting as it progresses.  It was started this morning and photographed in my studio under not the best lighting, but you get the idea.  When I finished laying down this foundation with the colors that I've been wanting to work with, I had no idea where I would go next.  I am now in the tossing various ideas around for the next step. It's really kinda exciting to have something started to ponder possibilities  ...and this will be exactly where I will be at for the next few days before I getting back to work.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Please visit my WEB GALLERY to see completed abstracts.

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

for fun

Recently, I got Elsie Larson from A Beautiful Mess, to take new pictures for my port folio. In particular, I really, really needed this for a featured artist article that will be coming out in January.  I am camera shy, so not the easiest person to photograph.  However, it was a wonderful mother and daughter time spent together and we managed to capture some "fun" shots with the dogs!

I'm out of the studio now and more in the kitchen mode mindset as in just a few more days we will be celebrating a Thanksgiving feast!  Although, still somewhat in the artist mode as I've been tossing around color ideas for a new painting.  AND,  a title...."Majesty"... this is kind of unusual as my hubbie titles my paintings and never do I come up with one before beginning.  Feeling inspired, so may just have to get up and paint some in the morning.  Sorry to say, I'm not very good at painting and cooking as I tend to get out there and forget about what is going on in the kitchen. Not good. So, will only start one.

Hope the photo's made you smile...have a wonderful week!

To see my paintings please visit my Web Gallery: HERE

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

colorful

Alembic

Acrylic on 16" x 20" x 3/4" wrap canvas

Available

I've been working on a few commission paintings lately and so that has taken up some of my regular painting time.  Thursday and Friday's are reserved Penny days!...no painting.  Well, except for the occasional break into grandma's supplies! She is four now and I am looking forward to the day we can paint together. This is a painting from 2012 and is one of my favorites.  Lots of surface texture created with thick paint, a palette knife...and COLOR!!

My paintings can be found and purchased directly from my web gallery: HERE

To contact me, please email me at: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

BLOG

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

Transition re-photographed

TRANSITION

Acrylic on 40" x 40" gallery wrap canvas

Available

SOLD

Here is the painting that I wrote about in the last post (scroll down) after having re-photographed outside with much better lighting.  Now, it is ready for listing.

Web Gallery: HERE

transitioning

Transition

Acrylic on 40" x 40" x 1.5" wrap canvas

Ready to hang

This is what I have been working on this week, but will have to take another photo of it before listing it for sale.    I photograph outside with natural lighting either in the mornings or late afternoons.  Yesterday, when I remembered I needed to get this one photographed, I looked outside and  magic hour was nearly gone.  It was only 4:30 but with winter coming on the days are getting shorter.  I quickly grabbed my camera, jacket and my helper, hubbie and out into the cold we went.  I photographed from several angles and spots in hopes of capturing the best light.  This image was the best of what we took, except for the top left area that looks washed out without much definition.  So, we will have to work with photographing another day.  It is so very important  to get very good photographs of your work when your working on line.  I am not a high tech type of person, but I have learned over the years how to photograph using natural lighting and editing in order to get a photo to look as close to the real painting as possible.   It is important to me that my work be represented well for several reasons.  First of all, I would like for it to so capture a person's attention that they are willing to consider it as an investment for their home/office.  But even more importantly,  when it reaches it's destination and is unpackaged  I would like the buyer to feel as if they received what they were expecting and more.  Since you never really can't capture it all in an image, it works out that they are even more pleased with their painting in real!

I've been observing and responding to the changes of our season here in the Ozarks with changes in my color palette.  We are now getting to that point where all those beautiful fall leaf colors are drying up and the wind is beginning to blow the leaves off the trees. The colors are in transition from vivid intense to more browns.  I am finding beauty in this as well.  It was my hope to capture my observations of these changes in this painting with more of the browns from the trees being seen, but still pops of color.  What do you think?

My Web Gallery link is; HERE

or to contact me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

raw abstract

Native

Acrylic on 24" x 32" heavy 156lb. watercolor paper

Ready to frame

This one is different for me as it has a primitive or raw feel to it.  It was begun with graphite on wet watercolor paper followed by washes of acrylic paint. Lastly, the graphite lines were re-emphasized. Ordinarily, I would continue building layers that create a textured surface.  There is something appealing to me in this painting with less.  Sometimes the hardest is knowing when your done.  Again, expectations can get in the way of your thinking and they need to be let go.  Easier said....than done!

Full portfolio of my abstract work can be viewed: HERE

For more information email me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

more fall colors

Glow

Acrylic on 19"H x 24"W heavy watercolor paper

Ready to frame

Available

Rich with layers of color and texture on heavy watercolor paper.  I've noticed that even though I am still working with the same medium (acrylics) it seems that lately I've been more willing to try new things, take that last step risk or even just let it be when I'm painting on paper.  Less expectations? Maybe so.  The paper that I'm working on is a heavy (156lb) Arches watercolor paper  that I purchased in a large roll earlier this year.  I love that I can cut paper off  what ever size and will usually get 2-3 pieces out of that.  The paper is then soaked in the bath tub and then transferred to my painted drafting table.  Usually I will begin freeform with watercolor paints and a water soluble pencil.  These are the first marks from which the flow of the painting will come.  I can only take the painting to a certain point on the wet paper and then have to leave the paper to dry.  This gives me time to get a fresh perspective on the piece and I can also start a few other paper paintings at the same time.  When dry, I will come back and begin layering with the acrylics.....and playing between all the pieces.

More of my abstract paintings can be seen: here.

Email: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Painting

kaleidoscope of color

Terrace

Acrylic on 24" x 24" x 1.5" wrap canvas

Available: HERE

SOLD

Still in a fall mode color palette as I was working with this one.  What will I do when all the trees become bare?  We are though still enjoying the changing of the colors.  Each day brings more changes. Within just one tree a kaleidoscope of colors can be found. Patchwork as you look across the countryside. Gold as the sun shines just right.  It's the topic of our conversations as we are out and about.

This one has many layers as I add and mix paint on my canvas which not only creates subtle value changes but also nice texture.  The more paint I get on the canvas the more mixing I can do and the longer the drying time is when working with acrylics. Here I was working with a brush then switched off to a palette knife and then felt like I needed some softening.  I used a foam roller around the edges for a softer less focused effect, creating more of an emphasize towards the off center area.  I've been continuing the painting around the sides creating some pretty interesting edges.

This painting along with my complete portfolio of available can be found in my web gallery: HERE

or by contacting me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist